Chip packer and spreader for pulp mills



Jan. 16, 1940. c K. A. RUDD CHIP PACKER AND SPREADER FOR PULP HILLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1938 Jan. 16, 1940. c. K. A. RUDD CHIP PACKER AND SPREADER FOR PULP MILLS Filed March 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT:

' ORNE.

Patented Jan. 16, 1940 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claus x. A. Rudd, Everett, Wash. Animation March so, 1m, Serial No. 198,954

' 2 Claims. (01. 214-11) This invention relates to the general art of radiation of heat from these walls. Hence, the paper making and has reference more particucenter of the digester contents is always found larly to an improved mechanism for distributing to be considerably hotter during most of the wood chips in pulp digesters, and it consists in cooking period than the outside portions, and

5 the constructions, arrangements and combinathe courses of circulation can be followed very {i tions herein described and claimed, definitely by the temperature variations. It leads The general object of the invention is to proto non-uniformity in the product inasmuch as vide a very'simple apparatus whereby the chips part of the wood is exposed to the cooking region may be so'evenly distributed in the digester as at a higher temperature for a much longer time to effect, in the first place, a more uniform cookthan other parts. Naturally, the cooking process 10 ing through a more uniform temperature disis not completed until all the wood has been tributicn within the digester, and a more thorconverted into pulp, and by the time the conough cooking in the same length of time; and, tents of the colder zones are completely conin the second place, a larger charge of chips can verted, the contents of the warmer central zones be introduced into the digester in less time than will be considerably overcooked, resulting in a II is possible by the procedure heretofore practiced, very appreciable yield andstrengthloss which, of by reason of more even distribution and piling course, is undesirable. A more modern system of the chips, and will thereby considerably inof cooking involves the forced circulation of hot crease the capacity of the pulp cooking equipcooking liquor through the digester, passing it 2 ment. through a pump. and forcing it back into the go In the present customary method of filling didigester from the bottom or top, as the case may gesters with chips, a spout is placed over the top be. This procedure is less productive of zones nozzle of the digester, and the sliding gate in of unequal temperatures in the digester, but its the chip hopper bottom immediately above the emciency in this respect is not complete. The

spout is opened, the chips falling by gravity angular stratification of the chips causes most a through the spout and into the digester. As is of the liquor to flow through the central zone of the case with all materials in small pieces, a the digester if the liquor is forced in at the botcone shaped pile is formed in the digester, the tom, or along the walls if delivered at the top, entering chips dropping on the apex of the pile and this leads to somewhat inactive zones in the and sliding down to the position of rest somedigester contents which are not pulped as rapidly go where along the sides of the pile. The chips as the main body of the contents. The present have a slab-like form or shape, tending to take invention aims to eliminate all of the undesirable a position of most stable equilibrium. that is to conditions in the digesters outlined above, and y y l es o One Of t e fl 18085 av employs, as the main feature of the. invention,

the greatest surface area, rather than on one a novel d i i th at r of a revolving cone f the edges. a slide downthe cone in this with diagonally. shaped flns attached to the outer position, with the result that a charge of chips surface and rotatably suspended in t digester is formed in the digester having a Stratification below the charging nozzle of the latter corresponding to the angles of repose of the maand disposed in the path the falling stream 40 terial. Not infrequently a stream of chips dropof chips, for creating a substantially horizontal o ping from the bin enters the top of the digester t atm a 1 1 the hi 1 th d1 ester a eccentri'cally, and this leads to a stratification 2 3 2: 2; of r s i g a at;

apex line somewhat eccentric to the vertical center line of the digester. However, the angularity imimrm 5 :2 and g'il g to 15 5 of the stratification still exists. Now the liquid norm 9 pulp 0 mm 5 must naturally flow in channels formed by the is securedinterstices between the chips, and if the chips The invention its mode m the benehave an angular stratiiication, such as results fits and advantages inherent therein w ll b from the usual method of filling. the channels readily ood and appreciated by those faor interstices must be somewhat continuous in 11111181 with s branch 01 the P p fl nfl a the direction of the angular alinement or stratifrom the following detailed description, taking fication. Since these channels lead upward and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, away from the walls of the digester, and in wherein,.

descending it follows the outside walls of the Figure 1 is a side elevation of my chip packer, 5s vessel because of the cooling effect resulting from Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the device, illustrating the drive.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation with parts in section illustrating the oiling means for the motor of the device.

Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating the packer suspended with a digester.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a digester showing the even distribution of chips as accomplished'with my device.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the chip deposition as at present carried out.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a base plate l upon which there is mounted by means of angle brackets or otherwise, an upstanding circumscribing wall ll.

Upon the base plate ll within the wall If, a.

yoke I2 is mounted. The yoke I2, in the present instance, comprises a pair of legs 13 their lower ends abutting and welded to the base plate III, the connecting cross member ll being apertured to receive an upright shaft IS. The shaft I is preferably welded within the aperture to afford registry.

The structure thus far described, affords the main support of the distributing cone as will now be described.

The distributing cone It may include walls of any suitable inclination, this depending largely upon the digester to which it is applied and in order to rotatably support the cone, 1 provide a cap piece I! and a conical member IS, the latter being welded to the inner surface of the cone. The'conical member I8 is secured in the apex of the cone and has mounted therein a downwardly extended bearing sleeve [9.

The cone It has an inwardly directed plate 20 medially of which there is provided a sleeve 2| of a diameter receiving the lower end of the sleeve 19. The sleeve 2| seats a bearing 22 revolvably supporting the cone and a similar bearing 23 supports the upper end of the shaft ii, the latter bearing being suitably retained between the upper end of the sleeve l9 and the cap I! which is preferably screw-threaded in the sleeve.

In order that the cone I6 may be securely fixed to the shaft I5, the upper end of the shaft is exteriorly screw-threaded to receive a lock nut 24, the cap I! being suitably recessed to receive the nut. A hoist-ring 25 is fixed to the cap I1 and will be employed in conjunction with any approved grapple for removal of the distributer.

Adjacent the lower end of the cone l6 there is secured, as by welding, a drive ring 26, upon the under side of which there is mounted an annular driving gear 21. The'ring 26 is. preferably provided with an annular recess 28 receiving the upper edge of the wall ll therein.

A driving motor 29 is provided, mounted medially of the base plate 10, the motor including a drive shaft 30 carrying a gear 3| adapted to mesh with the gear 21. From the foregoing, it

will be apparent that with rotation of the motor gear 3!, rotation will be imparted to the driving gear 21 with consequent rotation of the cone It.

In order that the bearing of the motor may be properly lubricated, without undue labor, the shaft is provided with a longitudinal bore 32 stopping at a point slightly above the cross arm I of the yoke, and from this point there are formed lateral ports opening in opposite direc tions for reception of pipes 33, the other ends of which are connected with bores communicating I with bearings of the motor.

Upon the outer surface of the cone it there are a series of helicoidal outwardly disposed vanes 34, the function 'of which will be apparent from the description .91 the operation.

A plurality of: radially extending support bars 35 are secured 193th; underside of the base plate Hi, the outer-extremities being apertured to receive suspensiom'rods 36, the upper ends of which are bent to engage over the upper edge 31 of the entrance opening of the digester 38 (see Figure 5).

The vanes 31 are preferably inclined in a manner to shunt the chips radially upon rotation of the cone I8. I I

. me operation The operation will be readily understood from the following description.

The distributer being suspended within the digester as illustrated in Figure 5, the motor 29 being energized, the cone [6 will be caused to rotate and as the chips are discharged from the hopper 39 on to the cone the vanes 34 will cause an even horizontal distribution of the chips within the digester.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own, all such modifications in structure as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A chip distributer for pulp digesters comprising a base member, having means for suspension within the entrance opening of a digester, a casing on the base member, an electric motor on the base and housed by the casing, a yoke on the base having an upright shaft, a sleeve revolubly mounted on the shaft, a cone member fixed to the sleeve, said cone member having a ring gear upon its interior, a gear fixed to the drive shaft of the motor in mesh with the ring gear, the ring gear having an annular groove for reception of the upper edge of the casing, and said cone having helicoidal vanes upon its exterior surface.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the shaft is secured against longitudinal movement, and in which the upper end of the sleeve is provided with internal threads, 2. cap engaged with the threads, and a hoist ring fixed in the cap.

CLAUS K. A. RUDD. 

